In a lighter tone, the news anchor said, ”I hear that your children were in a band once. Is that true?”
Chief Fleming blinked, as though surprised. Then his chest swelled, and Wyatt groaned. “Dad, no,” he said. “Please don’t boast about us.”
Raph frowned. “Looks like he might.”
“We weren’t in a band,” Wyatt said.
“Shh! I’m recording,” Hazel hissed, glaring at them both.
On the TV, Chief Fleming beamed. ”My eldest, Raph, plays the violin. My second boy, Wyatt, plays the piano. And my youngest, Penny, she does amazing vocals. They’re incredible together—their music moves me to tears. It’s been such a long time since they’ve played together.”
The news anchor brightened. ”Do you think they might volunteer to play for the Highton Children’s Charity? The HCC has recently put out a call for musical auditions. They’ll be doing a fundraiser in a few months’ time.”
Chief Fleming beamed. ”I’m sure they would—watch out for them! They used to be called the Fleming Trio.”
Wyatt covered his face, groaning. “Dad, no. Really. Tell me he didn’t just say that.”
“It’s a repeat telecast,” Hazel whispered. “So Grandpa didn’t just say that. He did it hours ago.”
Wyatt turned, burying his face in Raph’s shoulder. Playing in front of not just his parents, but a crowd? “Save us all, Raph.”
Raph set a comforting hand on Wyatt’s back, rubbing his spine. “Not sure what I can do.”
“Convince him not to sign us up. Oh, gods—has he already?” Wyatt curled his fingers into Raph’s sides, shaking his head. Dad had been hinting that Wyatt should show up with Raph at their family dinners. “He’d totally do it, too. And say it’s for charity.”
Not only had Wyatt been avoiding Raph in front of them—his pregnancy would show as time went on. And he and Raph hadn’t planned to reveal that yet.
“What’s wrong with going to perform?” Hazel asked. Wyatt assumed she’d finished with the recording. “I’ve seen you play the piano, Dad, but I didn’t know you guys played together! I wanna watch Uncle Raph play the violin. I love violins.”
“I love your kid,” Raph said, laughing. “She’s great.”
Wyatt’s heart fluttered. Not only had Raph accepted him so readily into his life, but he’d accepted Wyatt’s daughter, too. And Wyatt had never heard Raph say he loved anyone, not this easily.
“You love her, huh?” he murmured into Raph’s shoulder. “You’ve only known her a day.”
“Yeah. I love you, too.”
And all of Wyatt’s thoughts fled his mind, leaving those little words echoing in his head. He couldn’t possibly deserve Raph’s love.
“You shouldn’t.” His pulse thudded. He’d gotten into so much trouble with Max, just by wanting affection. Max had shoved him away, had said You’re just some shitty omega. Beg me if you want me to touch you.
And Wyatt had begged, ashamed by how much he’d wanted his stepbrother. Max never found out about Raph. For that, Wyatt was grateful.
“I don’t care if I should or shouldn’t,” Raph said. He slipped his fingers through Wyatt’s hair, pressing a kiss to his neck. “You’re my omega. You deserve my love.”
My omega. Wyatt’s cheeks prickled. That was intimate, too. And maybe he could get used to it.
“Oh,” Hazel said.
Wyatt groaned. She heard that?
Face burning, he lifted his head, almost afraid to look at his daughter. “What is it, Hazel?”
“You’re a lot better than those alphas Dad goes on dates with,” Hazel said to Raph, her face deadpan. “You’re really sappy, but that’s fine. Those guys are full of themselves.”
Wyatt wanted to burrow into a hole. Next to him, Raph snorted. But his hand tightened in Wyatt’s hair, almost possessive. “Other alphas?”
“Yeah. Aunt Penny says she doesn’t trust Dad to go on dates. So we tag along and sit at another table.”
“The fuck,” Raph said. “Penny chaperones your dates? Seriously?”
“Not all the time.” Wyatt grimaced. He didn’t know which was more embarrassing—Penny spying, or Raph finding out about this. “On the bright side, I lose interest in them by the end of the date. Penny and Hazel come up and rescue me, and we go home.”
Raph chuckled, his fingers trailing along Wyatt’s scalp, a slow massage. “You gonna go on any more dates after this?”
Wyatt couldn’t help smiling then, leaning into Raph’s warm chest. “You think?”
“I don’t know,” Raph murmured in his ear, his breath warm. “Tell me.”
“I’m not.” Wyatt slipped his arms around Raph’s waist, pulling himself close. “I have you.”
“Good,” Raph whispered, kissing his neck. Then he tipped Wyatt’s head up, and kissed the other side of his throat, where the scent gland was. Hazel watched. Raph eyed her for a moment, before asking, “Your dad told you about bondmates?”
Wyatt held his breath.
She nodded. “Mates for life. Kind of like getting married, but more important.”
“Your dad’s my bondmate,” Raph said, tracing his fingers just along the raw bite mark. Wyatt shivered. “That okay with you?”
“Is it true?” Hazel asked Wyatt.
Maybe they shouldn’t be telling Hazel this. Maybe Wyatt should break the bond. But Raph brushed his thumb along Wyatt’s skin, soothing, and Wyatt realized that he wanted to be Raph’s mate. So he nodded, slipping his fingers around Raph’s hand. “Yes. We’re bondmates.”
Raph drew a quick, sharp breath, his mouth curling into a little smile. He wanted this too, then. They weren’t lovers, not really. But what they had... it was precious. Not something Wyatt wanted to let go of anytime soon.
Hazel scrutinized Wyatt for a moment, then Raph. Then she settled back onto the couch, nodding. “Dad likes you,” she told Raph. “I like you, too.”
Well, she wasn’t wrong about that. Wyatt relaxed. Maybe things would be okay, between the three of them.
Raph smiled, reaching over to ruffle her hair. Wyatt beckoned to her. “C’mon, give us a hug.”
She clambered over the couch, flopping between them in a whiff of shampoo. And as Wyatt hugged Hazel, so did Raph, his strong arms wrapping around them both.
In that moment, they all felt like family,
